.585 Gehringer

.585 Gehringer

Type Rifle
Place of origin  Australia
Production history
Designer Karl Gehringer
Specifications
Case type Rebated Rimless
Case length 3.06 in (78 mm)
Case capacity 200 gr H2O (13 cm³)
Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type Velocity Energy
750 gr (49 g) SP 2,350 ft/s (720 m/s) 9,200 ft·lbf (12,500 J)

The .585 Gehringer is an elephant gun cartridge of the .577 bolt action wildcat family. It was designed over several years by Karl Gehringer, member of the Australian wrestling team during service in the Australian Armed Forces. Like most elephant guns the purpose was stopping power on large dangerous game at close quarters. The test rifle was a CZ-550 .416 Rigby fitted with a .577 Tobler Barrel of 1:22 twist rate. A 2.8" Nyati reamer and 3.25" Bertram brass was used to create a unique case length of 3.06" and the rims were rebated to the original .416 Rigby boltface.

In 2001, Woodleigh 750gn softpoint and FMJ bullets were tested to 2,350 ft/s (720 m/s) as a suitable hunting load. Geoff McDonald of Woodleigh also provided a special run of 900gn softpoints for the rifle.

Case capacity

200 grains to case mouth.

Power

Power is dependant on the practicalities of gun weight and recoil. Like most 3"+ 585 wildcats it will exceed 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) with a 750gn bullet for near 11,400 ft·lbf (15,500 J) muzzle energy (roughly 4 times the power of 7.62 Nato).

References